Susan Farrell Bankhead, Certified Genealogist (sm)
Time to Get Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync
If you’ve been frustrated by not being able to update Family Tree Maker from any electronic device, Ancestry has come up with a solution for you! It’s called Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync.
Other features of Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync include:
- Blended family view which accommodates many families today
- Improved smart stories with new tools for adding and editing information
- Chart personalization which lets you add text, and show generation labels
- Index of Individuals report gives you a list of everyone with birth, marriage, and death dates.
- Customized fact sentences to change the wording in generated reports
- Descendant charts between two people to show the relationship between two people
- Media management tools
- Chart templates
- Source templates
- Custom timelines
- Electronic copy of The Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker 2012
Note: The Mac version of Family Tree Maker 2012 is not yet available but is coming soon.
Pre-order now until September 27th for 40% off making the pre-order price $23.99! That’s less than dinner out in a nice restaurant!
Once the launch is official, the price for Family Tree Maker 2012 will be $39.99. So order it today! (You can find the button to order it on my sidebar.) They will begin shipping the last week of September 2011.
Have you tried out this software? The Family Tree Maker 2012 with Sync?
I was frustrated years ago with trying to sync one program on one with computer with the information captured on another computer because it duplicated all the notes, comments, etc.
With this new Sync, I wonder if it will allow me to Sync the Family Tree Maker file I have on my computer with the backup I keep on my Mom’s computer, as well as the file I keep on ancestry.com.
Gerald: Thank you for your comment! I have not tried it yet but will as soon as it is released and then I’ll write another post about it. Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync did not have the feature to sync files before, and I constantly complained about it every time I spoke with Ancestry people. They were aware of the issue and said they were working on it. Now, they claim this new program will do it. I think it would be great to be able to access my tree from any computer. I think this program may do it!
Hi Gerald,
This from Ancestry’s Blog about TreeSync:
Can I download and sync my Ancestry tree to more than one computer?
You may download your Ancestry tree to any computer that has Family Tree Maker. However, you can only download and sync your tree to one computer—even if you have installed Family Tree Maker 2012 on two computers. Be aware that you cannot synchronise a tree between two computers either.
So it sounds like you would be able to download your online tree to multiple computers that have FTM2012 installed on them (legal copies of course) but you will be able to only sync your online tree with 1 computer. Why you can’t sync with multiple computers is beyond me but you could feasibly sync your tree with your computer, and download the updated online tree to your mother’s computer for safekeeping (this is only a scenario that should work based on what Ancestry is saying).
Check out Ancestry’s Blog for current information. There seems to be an issue with the Macintosh version & its recently released update as well.
Thank you Michael!
Hey there Susan,
Do you know if this version will be touch friendly? If it’s compatible across any electronic device, does that mean I can download it onto my ipad/iphone?
Is it possible to download Family Tree Maker initially from Ancestry, rather than use a disk to upload it?
Thanks!
Stephanie: Thank you for your questions about the new Family Tree Maker 2012. I know what I think the answers are, but I’ll do some checking and get back to you.
Stephanie: Here’s the scoop on Family Tree Maker 2012 with TreeSync. Family Tree Maker 2012 is only available on a disc. It cannot be downloaded from Ancestry’s site. With the disc in hand, you will need to install it on a PC computer. When you create your tree on the computer, you may choose to sync it automatically or manually with your online tree at Ancestry. Your online tree is available to you as an app from your Ipad or Iphone. Personally, I’m thrilled to be able to sync my PC with my online tree and have my tree available from anywhere.
I hope the new FTM 2012 will be easier to use and more like the old 2006 version. I hate the 2009 version as it messed up all my photos and I still can not figure out how to use it properly. I was quite happy with the format of the 2006 version which I use on one PC and the 2009 version on my lapton for internet connections. Why couldn’t they just combine the two features as the format was so simple to use until they changed it all in 2009. It did put me off my reseach for a long time as it was too complicated for us oldies who are not up to high tech programes and internet wizards.
Jan: Thank you for your in put about FTM 2006 and 2009! I totally hear you about being an oldie who is not up to high tech programs. It’s a constant learning curve for me, but I am trying to get it so I can help inform others. I, too, was not happy with the way FTM handled photos, so let’s hope the new version will do all we want it to do and more. It’s our in put that drives their changes, so hopefully they’ve listened and heard and made the changes we desired!
Hello Susan,
There is no mention of Android that I can see so the most interesting feature (TreeSync) will be no good to at least half of smart phone users. It would be nice to be able access our trees when out and about at record centres, churches, etc.
Rick: I agree with you. Ancestry is working on developing an app for the Android. I have an Android, too, so we’ll both be waiting for their announcement!